Vuvuzela South Africa

Carlos Alberto Parreira is the new coach for the South African National Soccer Team. After two weeks of rumours and denials, the South African Football Association (SAFA) made the announcement just after 7pm at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg.

During this Bafana coach fiasco, it seemed all that the loyal and passionate supporters were agreed upon, is that they were happy that Joel Santana was out of the picture.

Most South African fans have been calling for a local coach – Clive Barker, Gordon Igesund, Gavin Hunt or even Pitso. Nobody wanted another Brazilian coach.

Bafana’s Only Coach

But it seemed that the die was cast long before Joel Santana even stepped down. Remember when Safa and Santana were denying that Pappa Joel was leaving? Remember that this voice of Parreira drifted across the ocean from Brazil saying that he was standing ready to step into the position IF he was the only coach?

So Who is Carlos Alberto Parreira?

Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira was born February 27, 1943, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Parreira supports Fluminense, and he has won two important League titles for the club: The First Division Brazilian Championship in 1984 and the Third Division in 1999.

Parreira is noted for having been one of only two coaches that has led four national teams to the World Cup: Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, and Saudi Arabia in 1998. The other coach, Bora Milutinovic, surpassed this record when he led a fifth team in 2002. He was also involved to some extent with the 1970 championship team for Brazil, which he claims was an inspiration for him to aspire to be a national football coach.

FIFA World Cup Matches Record

Parreira has coached national squads in 21 games in FIFA World Cup competition. Parreira’s coaching record is 10-4-8 (Wins-Draws-Losses). His teams have scored 27 goals and conceded 29.

Interview with Carlos Alberto Parreira on Fifa Website

Photo: Carlos Alberto Parreira deposintonaweb

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“Bafana threw everything forward near the end but the defence of Iceland, a country that would fit into Soweto and with just 350 000 people, held firm.”

Bafana Bafana Team Showed Some Improvement

On Tuesday night the 2010 World Cup hosts suffered a 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Laugardalsvollur.

Although the Bafana Bafana team showed glimpses of improvement throughout the match; they started off well, attacking and passing the ball with intent.

Changed Starting Line-Up

Santana bowed to pressure and named a much changed line-up to the side who lost in Norway with Franklyn Cale, Sthembiso Ngcobo, Richard Henyekane and Siyabonga Sangweni all getting starts. Iceland, who are ranked a lowly 96th in the world, scored in the 50th minute through Veigar Pall Gunnarsson.

Henyekane and Modise More Lively

Richard Henyekane and Teko Modise were certainly livelier last night and  created some problems for Iceland’s defence.

Moeneeb Josephs played a great game until five minutes after half time when Gunnarsson bent a shot with the outside of his foot on the edge of the box after Mokoena failed to clear properly and goalkeeper Josephs got caught going the wrong way.

Six Changes in the Second Half

A desperate Joel Santana made six changes in the second half, but Bafana’s  left their shooting boots at home, with Teko Modise missing two good chances in the second half

I like this quote from kickoff.com: “Bafana threw everything forward near the end but the defence of Iceland, a country that would fit into Soweto and with just 350 000 people, held firm.”

Speculation over Santana’s Fate Continues

Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 loss to Iceland follows their 1-0 loss to Norway on Saturday and means that speculation over an imminent chop for coach Joel Santana will continue, even though Safa made their voice heard before the match to try and put a lid on the the growing discussion over a possible sacking and the replacements for coach Joel Santana.

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It is with a heavy heart that I am attempting to write this South Africa vs Iceland Preview. Bafana Bafana has lost seven times in a row, and without sounding negative (ok, I am sounding negative), I do not have much hope for today’s match, even though Iceland is ranked 96.

Not Only Joel Santana

It is not just the much-vilified coach Joel Santana; it is the Bafana Bafana team as well. I watch those boys playing PSL matches and then I see them on the pitch in their Bafana colors and it is as if zombies have invaded their bodies – they are totally different players.

South Africa suffered their seventh defeat in eight games against Norway on Saturday and never looked like troubling the European side’s goal.

As a matter of fact, just over four years ago South Africa lost 4-1 to Iceland in an international friendly but just one member of that Bafana Bafana starting line-up is set to feature on Tuesday night- the  Captain Aaron Mokoena.

Bafana Bafana Team

The 2010 hosts were underwhelming in Saturday’s clash with Norway and most worryingly of all, didn’t look like improving on their woeful scoring record. The strike force on Katlego Mphela and Bernard Parker were isolated up front and Teko Modise again failed to prompt any meaningful forays into the final third say football 365.com

But with Steven Pienaar ruled out with a knee injury, Santana’s attacking options in midfield are limited to Elrio van Heerden, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Modise and Franklyn Cale, who made his debut on the weekend.

It is a similar story with the forward line as although Richard Henyekane offers pace, he and Mabhuti Khenyeza and Sthembiso Ngcobo lack the international wherewithal to trouble international class backlines.

Iceland – Seasoned International Players

Iceland on the other hand, although not well ranked, has a line-up of seasoned internationals who might just teach Bafana Bafana a lesson or two. I guess the best we can hope for is a draw – the same result South Africa achieved against Iceland way back in 1998.

Emile Baron or Moeneeb Josephs

Meanwhile goalkeeper Emile Baron has been declared fit to play against Iceland. This comes after he picked up a minor finger injury at training on Friday, so will Santana use him or the in form Moeneeb Josephs who saves the team from a certain humiliation with his sharp stopping on Saturday?

South Africa take on Iceland this evening (Tuesday) at the Laugardalsvollur Stadium in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Kick off is at 20h10 South African time.

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After South Africa’s 1-0 defeat to Norway yesterday it looks even more certain that Brazilian coach Joel Santana will soon be packing his bags and leaving for Rio. But I ask the question; surely the fault doesn’t only lie with the coach? These are highly skilled professional players who are letting their country down.

Seventh Loss in Eight Games

In Oslo yesterday, Kjetil Waehler’s second-half winner saw the South African visitor’s slump to their seventh loss in eight games – a shocking return for the country set to host next year’s World Cup. (And we know that the one win Bafana had in those eight games against Madagascar, was lucky).

Before the friendly, new SAFA president, Kirsten Nematandani made it clear that positive results are needed if Santana hopes to keep his job for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Nematandani Appointed a Watchdog Panel

Nematandani even appointed a three-man watchdog panel – comprising of South African coaching heavyweights Jomo Sono, Gavin Hunt and Clive Barker – to evaluate the struggling team’s form in this clash as well as in the upcoming friendly with Iceland. (They could not get visas in time for the Norway friendly but will be at the game in Iceland next week).

Bafana Bafana Coach, Joel Santana

I am Not Afraid of My Job – Santana

“I am not afraid for my job” – this was the key theme in Joel Santana’s press conference after Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 defeat to Norway in Oslo on Saturday afternoon reports kickoff.com.

“I feel that I have the full support of this group of players. I do not have any problems with any player; my players stick together for me,” the Brazilian said.

Santana and Bafana Blame the Pitch

Santana told kickoff.com that the state of the pitch also had an influence on their performance.

“This is no excuse, but some of my best technical players came to me and complained about the grass. It was really short and really wet, and the grass was also hard. It was difficult to play the ball out there.”

Oh come on, most of these boys grew up playing in the townships playing soccer with a tennis ball – they are known for their ball control  and skills– to blame the pitch is just lame and may I say desperate?

The Match  Score : Norway 1 – Bafana Bafana 0

Bafana Bafana never looked like a team wanting to win from the moment they ran on to the pitch. Norway was all over Bafana in a one-sided first half in which the South Africans failed to test Norwegian goalkeeper Jon Knudsen.  In stead of the more attacking game that Santana promised, it was more of the same hanging around. The only Bafana player who was busier than Checkers on a Saturday morning was stopman Moeneeb Josephs who did very well keeping the Norway strikers at bay.

Although they did not play their best game, the hosts maintained their shape throughout as South Africa battled to launch any attacks of substance. Sundown’s striker Katlego Mphela threatened with a decent effort late in the game in the 81st minute and gave goalkeeper Knudsen some real work.

What Was Teko Modise Doing?

And Teko Modise – well he was, as they say conspicuous by his absence – yes, he was there on the pitch but he didn’t perform, just also just sort of hung around.

Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena, talking exclusively to KickOff.com before boarding the bus after the game, bizarrely claimed they played well, though he did admit to some frustration.

Aaron Mokoena – Frustrating to Lose

“I think we played pretty well, but it is very frustrating to lose,” he told KickOff.com. “And it is very frustrating that we are not creating chances.

One needs to keep the spirits up and the spin going, but it seems as if a kind of fog has settled over the Bafana Bafana team.

I know that before the Confed Cup they worked with a team psychologist who worked with the Boks – maybe they need to get rid of this coach, get a new one and get the team psychologist in to get our boys believing in themselves again

Photo: Coach Joel Santana from football365.com

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South Africa vs Norway. Can South Africa beat Norway on Saturday? I think Bafana Bafana fans, who are a pretty optimistic bunch, already have this sick feeling in their stomach because they know what another loss will mean to the morale of their team.

2010 FIFA World Cup – Norway Didn’t Qualify

Now, Norway hasn’t qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and South Africa, who is losing all its matches has qualified automatically as the host of the World Cup – there is a bit of pride at stake in this South Africa vs Norway friendly

According to 365.co.za the Brazilian Coach Joel Santana hedged his bets about the friendly international match against Norway on Saturday: “We have met them before and we beat them and in that match I think South Africa played some exciting football. Now we meet again, and we are preparing for the World Cup, so we might win or lose, but I said to my players we need to play beautiful football with a lot of discipline.”

Joel Santana – Beautiful Soccer

If I were Joel Santana’s employers who are paying him over a million rands a month, I don’t know if I would be happy with that answer. I am sure they do not pay him to coach Bafana Bafana to play “beautiful soccer” – we want our boys to win!

“You have to remember that I come from a country that has won the World Cup five times and provided some of the world’s best players. I am here to make South Africa play like Brazil. That’s the reason why South Africa appointed a Brazilian to train their team.” Santana concluded

You can watch the South Africa vs Norway match live online Saturday at Oleolefootball.com

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